As we celebrate Pride, let’s dive into some of the events that led to big changes in the community, starting with the Stonewall Riots. These riots were a big turning point in LGBTQ+ rights. But why? Who was involved and what exactly happened? Click through the slideshow to find out.
What Was the Stonewall Riots?
One paragraph is not enough to go over the Stonewall Riots. Before we dive into this specific event, we need some context.
Context
One paragraph is not enough to go over the Stonewall Riots. Before we dive into this specific event, we need some context. Greenwich Village has been home to a sizable LGBTQ+ community since at least the 1930s. During the Prohibition era, speakeasies popped up all over New York City, specifically the Greenwich Village and Harlem. Many of these establishments openly welcome homosexuals.
During the 1960s, the mayor of New York was shutting down gay and lesbian bars. Undercover cops were sent to bars to bust the LGBTQ+ community. While quite a few notable bars and speakeasies popped up during this decade and on, all were run by organized crime groups. These groups protected gay and lesbian attendees while also charging high fees and giving watered-down alcohol.
The Stonewall Inn
The Stonewall Inn is an iconic and historic building with a rich history for the LGBTQ+ community. It was first purchased by four mafiosos in 1966 who believed they could make a profit in the area knowing that the community was growing. They paid $3,500 for the Stonewall Inn. It opened on March 18, 1967, as a gay bar and was the only gay bar in the area that allowed dancing. Because it served the LGBTQ+ community, the bar didn’t have an alcohol license, but the mafiosos would pay off police to keep the place open.
Popularity
While it wasn’t the cleanest place in town, it was a popular joint. The dishes were seldom clean as the spot didn’t have running water. To clean the glasses, the bartenders would rinse the cups out in a tub of water. There was also poor lighting throughout the club.
The Day of the Riots
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, eight officers arrived at the Stonewall Inn. Four were in plain clothing while two were in uniform. They were alerted by undercover cops who went in earlier. When arriving at the door, the officers shouted, “Police! We’re taking the place!” This one sentence started everything.
The lights went on in the club and the patrons were forced to undergo gender/sex and identity screenings. As people were rushed into patrol cars, violence, and anger were brewing.
The bulk of the violence began when one woman, a lesbian at the club, was hurt by the police. She yelled to the audience, “Why don’t you guys do something?” The crowd soon became a mob, angry at how the officers were treating her. They threw objects like beer bottles at the officers. The police barricaded themselves in the bar, afraid for their lives. The mob turned to the establishment, breaking through the windows and throwing flames at the building.
Although most people assume the Stonewall Riots was just one day, it actually ran for six. For six days, protesters burned buildings and defended themselves against the police.
Impactful and Inspirational
The Stonewall Riots might not have changed gay rights overnight, but it did light fires in the community that were necessary to make the changes lawfully. This was one of the first times, and definitely the largest, that the LGBTQ+ community defended themselves.
A year later, the first Pride march hit the streets from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park. They called it the “Christopher Street Liberation Day.”
Rainbow Flag
A key event in LGBTQ+ history was when the Rainbow Flag was created. On June 25, 1978, Gilbert Baker designed the Pride flag. Each stripe represented something. For instance, red was for life, orange was for healing, and violet was for spirit.
First Country to Allow Gay Marriage
In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize gay marriage. This was a huge win and only inspired other countries to follow in their steps.
First Same-Sex Marriage in the United States
For the longest, same-sex marriage was entirely up to each state. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize it. On February 12, 2004, Dorothy Louise Taliaferro “Del” Martin and Phyllis Ann Lyon were married in San Francisco, California.
The United States Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
14 years after the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage, the United States did too. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the nation, no longer leaving it to each state.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Circle Creative Studio / iStock / Getty Images Plus.